Leighton Aspell: Grand National should be on every sports fans’ bucket list

A decade after their Grand National triumph with Pineau De Re, winning jockey Leighton Aspell and trainer Dr Richard Newland have recounted their fond Aintree memories - and why attending the best horse race in the world as a fan should be on everyone’s bucket list.

Aspell won only two major races in England - both coming in successive Grand National wins in 2014 and 2015. Aintree success is no easy feat in a jockey’s career, but Aspell is able to fondly reminisce about his emotions towards the race and how the ride came his way in 2014.

The former jockey is evidently enamoured with the prestigious race, which is hardly a surprise, and told Racing TV: “The Grand National should be on every sports fans’ bucket list to just savour and feel the experience of Aintree on that Saturday.

“Everybody knows the Grand National. When you were young, you wanted to ride in it. And then, as you’re progressing as a jockey, just to get on a horse who has the ability and potential to get into the National, they’re very hard to come by.”

Trainer Newland agreed, adding: “Growing up, I would have watched maybe one horse race a year - and that race was the Grand National. It has always been the race that makes jumps racing special, that transcends other races.”

Aspell was not initially set to have a ride on Pineau De Re in the race but a chance message to Dr Newland landed him his dream ride.

“I was on Richard’s radar for rides around that time, so I texted him, what did I have to lose? An hour later he texted me back saying ‘he’s yours’.”

The Grand National remains the biggest race in the British racing calendar, with hopes of a win in the prized handicap leading to a tense pre-race atmosphere according to Aspell, who lifted the lid on what the build-up is like for an under-pressure jockey on the biggest day of their year.

He said: “There’s a real edge to the whole day at Aintree, even in the weighing room. Everybody’s excited, but there’s a lot of adrenaline going through everybody.

“When they changed the start time to 5:15, it felt like a long day, because we had the briefing at 12pm. You’re hanging around the changing room for a long time and people are glad when the race eventually comes.

“There were two false starts and they are frustrating, especially in the Grand National. Trying to get 40 horses stopped and back to the start. It takes a bit of organising, but Pineau was easy to manage during this whole time - he was a real professional about it.”

Having saddled a Grand National winner, Newland is one of few trainers able to describe the emotions of such an achievement unfolding; with the nature of the race leading to confusion as to the status of the eventual winner.

He explained: “Another horse with similar colours fell at the first, and my assistant trainer at the time thought Pineau had gone. It was only about ten fences later that we realised he was still going.

“Then, there was a moment about four out, where he just looked to be running away with Leighton, and I thought ‘My God he’s going well’.

Having gone off with odds of 25/1 to win the Grand National at the start of the race, Aspell pulled clear with the eleven-year-old to sweep home to victory in front of 71,500 fans at a packed out Aintree. Even with a clear lead, Aspell recalled the nerves in the final furlongs.

He added: “You’re running at a wall of sound with the noise, and you’re just hoping that something doesn’t come in late and fast to mug you.

“Everybody was just on cloud nine, screaming and shouting. It was a frenzy.”

Despite winning at Cheltenham, the Grand National win remains Newland’s biggest victory to date. The trainer, who is also a qualified GP, described the euphoria which followed the win and the special memories shared both with his stable staff and royalty.

“After we won the race, my life, for a few minutes, went absolutely mad and there were microphones in front of me.” Newland said.

“Suddenly, I was called up to the podium to collect the trophy and the lads were all around, so I thought I'd better do something. It was a bit late for the slide, and I didn’t fancy taking my shirt off, so I started waving around on the stage like Frank Lampard (pointing my fingers).

“I then looked to my right to see someone patiently waiting to give me the trophy, which was Princess Anne! I said, ‘Your Highness, I apologise’, but she was very good about it.”